A Guide to Public Benefits and Assistance Programs from Kern County Department of Human Services
The Kern County DHS is the local office for California's major public benefit programs — CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and others — but it also administers several county-funded and county-specific programs not available everywhere in California. This page explains what's offered, who qualifies, and what Kern does that other counties don't.
As Kern County sits in a paradox that shapes everything about how its public benefit system works. It's California's top agricultural producer — generating more farm output than any other county in the state — and one of the largest oil-producing counties in the nation. Yet poverty here runs stubbornly high, driven in part by seasonal agricultural work, boom-and-bust energy employment, a large farmworker population with limited access to services, and a geography that spreads residents across a county larger than some states. That combination means the Kern County Department of Human Services operates differently than its counterparts in more urban California counties, and understanding those differences is part of what this guide is for.
The main DHS office is at 100 East California Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93307. The main phone line is (661) 631-6000, and a dedicated CalWORKs/assistance line (CAT) is available at (877) 410-8812. Office hours across all locations are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Applications for most programs can also be submitted online at https://benefitscal.com/ without visiting an office.
CalFresh — food assistance
CalFresh is California's food assistance program, providing monthly benefits on an EBT card for purchasing food at grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers. It is the most widely used DHS program in Kern County and the most straightforward to access. Benefits are sized to household income and family composition, and many households that previously believed they didn't qualify — particularly those with working adults — have become eligible under California's income thresholds, which are higher than most other states.
One Kern-specific detail worth knowing: farmworkers in Kern County have historically been among the hardest groups to reach for CalFresh enrollment, both because of language barriers and because many work in remote areas far from DHS offices. The Benefits Express mobile unit — described below — was built specifically to address this need.
CalWORKs — cash assistance, job training, and housing support
CalWORKs is California's cash assistance program for families with children. In Kern County it operates under the Welfare-to-Work framework, meaning cash aid is paired with employment-focused services — job readiness training, job search support, education, childcare assistance, and case management. The program has a 60-month lifetime limit on cash aid, though work activity participation can extend certain benefits.
What Kern County DHS administers beyond the basic CalWORKs framework is worth understanding. The CalWORKs Homeless Assistance program is available specifically to CalWORKs-eligible families facing eviction or homelessness — it can cover temporary shelter, back rent, security deposits, utility payments, moving costs, and housing navigation. This isn't a separate application; families already in the CalWORKs system can request it through their Human Service Technician.
The CalWORKs Housing Support Program goes further, providing housing stability services for CalWORKs families who are homeless or at serious risk, including case management and wraparound services designed to secure and maintain permanent housing. This is an option in addition to Kern County rental assistance options. Both programs reflect Kern County's intentional integration of housing stability into its welfare-to-work framework — an approach not uniformly found across California county DHS offices.
General Assistance — county-funded aid for adults without children
This is a Kern County-funded program that falls outside California's standard state benefit structure, and it is important because it covers a gap the state programs don't. Single adults and couples without minor children who have no other means of support may be eligible for General Assistance — a modest cash payment funded entirely by Kern County rather than the state or federal government. It is specifically for people who don't qualify for CalWORKs (which requires dependent children) or other state cash programs. To apply, contact any DHS office or call (661) 631-6000.
CAPI — Cash Assistance for Immigrants
The Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants provides cash assistance to certain aged, blind, and disabled legal non-citizens who are ineligible for federal Supplemental Security Income due to their immigration status. Given Kern County's large immigrant population — particularly in agricultural communities — this is a meaningful program that many eligible residents don't know about. CAPI recipients may also qualify for Medi-Cal and In-Home Supportive Services. Applications are handled through DHS. For more options, see the help for Undocumented and Legal Immigrants in the U.S. page, which covers national programs.
TCVAP — assistance for trafficking and crime victims
The Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program provides cash assistance and benefits access to non-citizen victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes who are obtaining legal humanitarian status or assisting in a criminal prosecution. Kern County's agricultural sector has documented vulnerabilities to labor trafficking, making this a program with particular local relevance. Current eligibility and duration should be confirmed directly with DHS at intake.
Two Family Justice Centers in Kern County work alongside DHS on these cases: the main center at 1300 18th St., Bakersfield, CA 93301, phone (661) 868-5950, and the South Kern Family Justice Center at 12022 Main Street, Lamont, CA 93241, phone (661) 868-5820. The Open Door Network operates a 24/7 crisis line at (661) 327-1091.
Refugee Resources
DHS handles benefit access and coordination for refugees resettled in Kern County, including Refugee Cash Assistance, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal enrollment. Note that as of May 2025, Refugee Cash Assistance was also reduced from 12 to 4 months for new recipients. Refugees should contact DHS at intake to understand current benefit duration.
Benefits Express — Kern County's mobile DHS office
This is one of the more distinctive things Kern County DHS does, and it exists precisely because of the county's geography and agricultural workforce. Benefits Express is a 35-foot mobile office RV — one of only two such units in California funded through a state grant — equipped with four private indoor stations where DHS staff can meet confidentially with applicants. It operates under the tagline "Bringing Benefits to You" (Servicios Móviles Para Usted) and travels to community events, farmers markets, rural agricultural areas, and neighborhoods with limited transportation access throughout the county.
For farmworkers and rural residents who would otherwise need to travel significant distances to reach a fixed DHS office, Benefits Express is the practical alternative. The vehicle's schedule is posted at https://www.kcdhs.org/services/apply-for-benefits/benefits-express and it can also be requested for community events. This is a Kern-specific resource worth knowing about if distance or transportation is a barrier.
The Dream Center — foster youth resource hub
The Dream Center at 1801 19th Street in downtown Bakersfield is Kern County's only comprehensive resource center specifically for current and former foster youth up to age 24. It was named by the founding foster youth who helped design its service model. Through the Dream Center, young people can access education assistance, employment support, housing navigation, and connections to community resources. It also serves as the re-entry site for California's AB 12 Extended Foster Care program in Kern County, which allows eligible youth to remain in foster care support past age 18. The Dream Center is operated through DHS in partnership with the Kern County Network for Children.
JobFest and employment services
DHS hosts JobFest, a local employment fair connecting job seekers with Kern County employers across industries. It is one of several employment-focused initiatives Kern County DHS runs beyond the CalWORKs Welfare-to-Work requirement — recognizing that employment, not just benefit access, is the long-term goal for most families receiving assistance. Job seeker services and employer connections through DHS are listed at https://www.kcdhs.org/services/employment-services/job-seeker-services
In-Home Supportive Services
IHSS is administered through Kern County DHS and provides funding for in-home care for eligible aged, blind, or disabled Medi-Cal recipients who would otherwise need nursing home placement. An authorized provider — often a family member — is paid to assist with daily activities including personal care, meal preparation, housework, and accompaniment to medical appointments. For families caring for an elderly parent or disabled family member at home, this program is worth pursuing through DHS.
Covered California enrollment assistance
For residents who don't qualify for Medi-Cal but need health insurance, DHS can assist with Covered California applications — California's health insurance marketplace. DHS enrollment assistance is free, and staff can help determine whether a household qualifies for Medi-Cal, Covered California subsidies, or both.
How to apply and current office locations
BenefitsCal.com is the fastest starting point for most applications — it handles CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and General Assistance online without requiring a visit. For in-person help, call (661) 631-6000 or the CAT line at (877) 410-8812. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. DHS also has an application site at https://www.kcdhs.org/how-do-i/apply.
Current verified office locations: Main Bakersfield office at 100 East California Avenue; Lamont at 10215 Stobaugh St., Lamont, CA 93241; Mojave at 2340 Hwy 58, Mojave, CA 93501; Lake Isabella at 7050 Lake Isabella Blvd., Suite 130, Lake Isabella, CA 93240. Note that the Ridgecrest office at 145 E Ridgecrest Blvd. closed as of May 12, 2025 — residents in the Ridgecrest area should use the Mojave office or apply online.
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